Can-testing apparatus.



No. 786,404 PATENTED APR. 4, 1905.

H. G. BLACK.

CAN TESTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED 001:.12,1903.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WW/WMM. A v

No. 786,404; PATENTED APR. 4, 1905.

H; 6. BLACK.

CAN TESTING- APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED 0011;,1903.

3 SHEETS-SEEET 2.

PATENTEI) APR. 4, 1905.

H. 0. BLACK. CAN TESTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED 0OT.12,1903.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

"i IIIH HI UNITED STATES Patented April 4;, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

CAN-TESTING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 786,404, dated April4, 1905. Application filed October 12,1903. Serial No. 176.723.

To (0Z7 11.7mm, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY C. BLACK, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city and county of San Francisco, State of California,have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCan-TestingApparatus; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the same.

The present invention relates to certain improvements in connection withthat class of can-testing machines known as dip-testers, or such whereinthe cans to be tested are filled with air under pressure and thenimmersed within a liquid bath for the detection of imperfect cans asconveyed through the said bath, the invention residing more particularlyin the improved construction of the clamping mechanism for the cans andmeans for releasing the tested can from within its seat; also, in thedevices for automatically ejecting the tested can from its seat anddischarging the same respectively into the runways or chutes for theperfect and for the imperfect tested cans.

To comprehend the invention, reference should be had to the accompanyingsheets of drawings, wherein- Figure l is a side view in elevation of theapparatus, the tester-tank and the can-carrier being partly broken away,said view disclosing the runways or chutes for the perfect and for theimperfect cans, also the feed-chute or runway for delivering the cans tobe tested to the can-carrier, the supporting-plate for holding the loosecans within the can-seats being partly broken away in order to disclosethe ejector for the imperfect or defective cans. Fig. 2 is a top planview of the apparatus, the cancarrier being in section and theair-distributing means being in part section, one pair of can-clampsbeing illustrated as opened and the can within the seat of thecan-carrier in position to be discharged into the runway for the perfectcans. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional end view taken on line y g ofFig. 2 of the drawings and viewed in the direction of the arrow, thefeed-chute or runway for the cans and the chute or runways for thetested cans being shown, also the irregular trackway for opening andclosing the .can-

clamp mechanism. Fig. 4 is an enlarged broken detail top plan view ofthe can-carrier, disclosing three of the can-clamp mechanisms and a canin each of the seats of the can-carrier within which such mechanismswork, one of the cans being loose within its seat or unclamped, theother two cans being clamped, one of the clamped cans being partlybroken away and its clamping devices sectioned. Fig. 5 is a side view inelevation of the mechanism disclosed by Fig. t of the drawings. Fig. 6isa cross-sectional end view in elevation, taken on line in of Fig. 5 ofthe drawings and viewed in the direction of the smaller arrow. Fig. 7 isa rear view in elevation, partly broken away, disclosing theair-distributer and the disk rotatabl y mounted thereon, the airpassage-ways for the air being shown and one of the flexible-tubeconnections being illustrated. Fig. 8 is an end view, partly in section,of the mechanism illustrated by Fig. 7 of the drawings. Fig. 9 is across-section top plan view of the grooved trackway, taken on line a aof Fig. 3 of the drawings; and Fig. 10 is a similar view taken on line7) Z) of Fig. 3 of the drawings.

The numeral 1 is used to designate any suitable form ofsupporting-frame, to which is secured the stationary cross-shaft 2. Uponthe projecting end portion of said shaft is rotatably mounted thecan-carrier, which in the present case comprises a wheel 3 and a circular ring 3', which are united and held apart by the cross-plates 4.These plates are located an equidistance apart, so as to provide acircumferential series of can-seats 5, into which the cans 6 aredelivered during the rotation of the can-carrier by means of thecan-feed chute or runway 7, located at one side of the said can-carrier.The cans 6 as delivered from the chute or runway 7 fall into one of theseats 5, being upheld until clamped within the seat by means of thecurved supporting-plate 8. Said plate is arranged inside of thecan-carrier a slight distance below the inner surface of the Wheels rim,Fig. 1 of the drawings. The position of the curved receiving orsupporting plate 8 is such as to hold the cans within their seats asreceived to place their ends in line with the clamps 9 10 of eachcan-seat.

The can-clamps 9 10 extend, respectively, through the rim of the wheel 5and through the circular ring 3, so as to clamp and hold the cans withtheir axis parallel to the shaft 2.

The can-carrier is driven from the driveshaft 11 by means of a pinion12, illustrated by dotted linesin Fig. 20f the d rawings, which pinionis attached to the inner end of the said drive-shaft and meshes with a.gear-ring13, secured to the periphery of the wheel 3 of the can-carrier,Fig. 1 of the drawings. The drive-shaft 11 works in bearings 14 of theframe 1 and is driven by any suitable means, preferably by means of apower-belt (not shown) working over a pulley attached to the outer endportion of the said drive-shaft.

The stem 9 of the can-clamp 9 extends through the wheel 3 of thecan-carrier and is stationary or immovable, although each stem is formedwith a central passage-way 14, which by means of a flexible tube 15connects with an air-distributer 16, as hereinafter explained. To make atight joint or air-tight seal between the open mouth or end 17 of thecans 6 to be tested, each clamp 9 is provided with an elastic gasket orcushion 9, against which the open end of the can is forced as clampedwithin its seat.

The clamps 10 are movable ones, the stem 10 of each working through thering 3, epposing the rim of the wheel 3 of the can-carrier. The outerend of each stem 10 is connected by a link 18 to the crank 19, whichcranks are fulcrumed to the brackets 20, form ed integral with the saidring 3. Through each of these cranks extend a vertically-mov able rod21, the outer end of each carrying a roll 22. These rolls during therotation of the can-carrier work within the outward and inward inclines23 23 of the grooved curved trackway 23, Fig. 3 of the drawings, whichcurved trackway is arranged at one side of the machine outside of theface of the ring 3 of the can-carrier. The trackway 23 near its bottomis also formed with the outward inclines 24 24, which inclines are sopositioned as to throw the cranks 19 to move the clamp 10 away from thecan 6 in order to release the same as the cans are broughtopposite therespective runways 25 25 for the reception of the imperfect and theperfect cans, as will be hereinafter fully explained.

To the inner face of the frame 1, preferably, is attached a tester-tank26, which is disposed below the can-carrier and adapted to containliquid in which the lower portion of the cancarrier and cans carriedthereby may be immersed during rotation of the said can-carrier.

The air-distributer 16 consists of a circular hollow hub fixed to theshaft 2, upon which hub rotates thedisk 26. This disk is driven by themovement or rotation of the can-carrier, being connected thereto in anysuitable manner. Into the hub or air-distribnter leads the air-supplypipe 27, which is connected withapressure-pumporair-compressor. (Notshown.) Said supply-pipe communicates with an air-chamber 27, formed insaid hub, which chamber registers successively with the series of air-1assages 28, formed within the rotatable disk 26. WVith each air-passage28 connects a tubular extension 28, which extensions project radiallyfrom the periphery of the disk 26, Figs. 1, 7, and 8 of the drawings. Toeach extension is attached one end of a flexible tube 15, the oppositeend of which is connected to a tubular extension 29,depending from eachclamp-stem 9, which extensions communicate with'the interior passage-way14 of the said stems. As thus connected air under pressure enters theclamped cans 6 the moment the air-passages 28 of the disk 26 registerwith the air-chamber of the air-distributer 16, which are brought intoregistry successively during rotation of the can-carrier after the canshave been clamped within the seats 5.

The supporting-plate 8 and the trackway 2? are supported and held inposition by means of the bracket 30, projecting from the shaft 2.

During the operation of the apparatus the cans 6 are delivered into theseats 5 of the can-carrier from the inclined feed-chute 7 by gravityduring the travel of the roll 22 within the outward incline 23 of thegrooved trackway 23, the can being temporarily supported within the seat5 of the can-carrier by means of the supporting-plate 8. As thecan-carrier continues its rotation the roll 22 moves within theinwardly-inclined portion 23 of the track w ay 23, which gradually turnsthe crank 19, so as to force the clamp-stem 10 inward and cause theclamp 10 to move the can onto the clamp 9 and to firmly hold the canwithin its seat between the clamps 9 10. The can as thus clamped iscarried by the rotary traveling can-carrier into the tester-tank 26 forimmersion within the liquid bath contained therein. During the travel ofthe clamped can toward the tester-bath air under pressure is admittedinto the held can, as before explained. Should the can happen to be aleaky or imperfect one, this fact will be indicated to the person havingcharge of the machine by the bubbles caused by the air escaping fromwithin the submerged can. In such case the person in charge depresses orforces downward the rod 21 of the clamp mechanism for such can, so thatas the clamped can is carried out of the tester-bath the lower end ofthe said rod 21 will bear against the outward incline 24 and cause thecrank 19 to swing or turn outward, thereby moving the clamp 10 away fromthe can and releasing the same. The incline 24 is below the plane of theincline 24. Hence to engage with such incline 24 it is required that therod 21 be slightly depressed in order that its lower end will be in linewith the said incline 24. By the time the clamp mechanism for saidimperfect or defective can has been opened the can will be directlyopposite the discharge-runway 25 for the defective cans, and the saidcan will be forced from its seat into such runway by means of an ejectorattached to and working through the lower portion of the support 8. Thisejector consists of a fulcrumed lever 30, to the outer end of which isattached the weight 30. The inner end of said lever bears against theunder face of the hinged ejector-arm 31, which arm bears against theface of the can 6 and is thrown downward to force the can from its seatby the weighted rod or lever 30. The downward movement of the hingedejector-arm is limited by the stop 32, against which the extension 32'of the arm bears when the said arm has moved downward its full distance.Unless the can 6 has been released the pressure of the fulcrumed armexerted thereon will have no effect, but the arm will ride thereover inthe same manner as an ordinary pawl.

Should the can immersed within and carried through the tester-bath proveto be a perfect or non-leaky one, then the position of the rod 21 isleft undisturbed. The lower end of such rod will then be above and clearof the incline 24:, so that the can 6 will be held clamped within itsseat until carried past the discharge runway or chute 25 for the leakyor imperfect cans. However, as the can approaches the upper dischargechute or runway 25 for the perfect cans the lower projecting end of therod 21 will impinge against the incline 24 and during the travel of therotary can-carrier gradually throw the crank 19 to move the clamp-headto open the clamp mechanism, so as to gradually release the can withinits seat. By the time the held can has been fully released the same willbe positioned directly opposite the discharge chute or runway for theperfect or nonleaky cans, and the can will be forced, by means of anejector, from within its seat into the said discharge chute or runway25. The ejector for thus automatically discharging the tested can intothe chute or runway 25 corresponds with the ejector for the leaky orimperfect cans, it consisting of a fulcrumed lever 33, having a weight33' secured to its outer end. The inner end of said lever bears againstthe under face of the hinged ejector-arm 34, which arm in turn restsagainst the face of the can 6. This arm is thrown downward by the weightof the lever 33, the downward movement of the arm 34: being limited bythe stop 34, against which the extension 35 of the arm strikes when thearm has moved downward its full distance. As the can at such time isresting loosely within its seat, but little pressure is required toeject the same therefrom into the runway or chute 25.

In order to permit of cans of varying diameter to be received into theseats of the cancarrier, each seat is provided with an adjustable gage-plate 35. The stem 36 of such plate Works through an opening 36 in eachcross-plate 4 of the can-carrier and is held in adjusted position bymeans of a set-screw 37. By adjusting the gage-plate 35 toward or fromits supporting-plate the size of the canseats 5 is increased ordecreased accordingly. The plate 35 is so adjusted as to place the openmouth of the can 6 in axial alinement with the opening of the fixedclamp 9.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desiredto be protected by Letters Patent, is

1. In a can-tester, the combination of a cancarrier rotatable in avertical plane, of a circumferential series of can-seats in theperiphery thereof, of means for imparting rotation to the carrier, achute or runway for delivering cans to be tested into the can-seats ofthe carrier, clamping mechanism within each canseat, means for supplyingair under pressure into the clamped cans through one of the clamps ofthe clamping mechanism, a crank for moving the opposing clamp toward andfrom the can, a roll carried by said crank, a trackway within which saidroll travels during a portion of the carriers rotation, outward and inward inclines in the upper portion of said trackway within which theroll works to control the movement of the said crank, avertically-movable rod working through the cranks, a tester-tankdisposed below the cancarrier and into which the carrier dips to sulmerge the clamped cans carried thereby, inclines in the lower portion ofthe trackway with which the lower end of the verticallymovable rodengages to release the clamped can in accordance as to whether the cantested is a leaky or a perfect can, and means for automatically ejectingthe released can during movement of the can-carrier.

2. In a can-tester, the combination with the rotatable can-carrier, of acircumferential series of can-seats in the periphery thereof, of meansfor automatically clamping the cans to be tested within their seats,mechanism for supplying air under pressure to the interior of theclamped cans, a tester-tank disposed below the can-carrier and intowhich the same dips to submerge the cans carried thereby, devices forreleasing the clamping means as carried from within the tester-tank,dischargechutes for the leaky and perfect cans, and weight-actuatedejector means for automatically ejecting the released cans into theirrespective chutes in accordance as to whether the tested can is a leaky,or a perfect one.

3. The combination with the rotatable cancarrier, of a circumferentialseries of canseats therein, means within the seats for clamping the cansto be tested, a'tester-tank dis-. posed below the carrier and into whichthe same dips to submerge the cans carried thereby, devices forautomatically operating the clamp mechanism to clamp the cans to betested and to release the cans after having been tested,discharge-chutes into which the tested cans are received, andweight-actuated means for forcibly ejecting the tested cans from withintheir seats.

4. In a can-tester of the described character, the combination with arotatable can-carrier, of a circumferential series of can-seats therein,a movable and a stationary can-clamp within each can-seat, anair-distributer, an air-supply pipe connected therewith, a diskrotatably mounted upon the air-distributer, a series of air-passagesthrough the rotatable disk, said passages communicating successivelywith an outlet within the distributer for the air, a flexible-tubeconnection between each air-passage of the rotatable disk and the fixedclamp of each canseat, each fixed clamp having a passage-Way throughwhich air is admitted into the clamped can, means for automaticallyactuating the movable can-clamp to clamp the can within its seat andrelease the same after having been tested, and devices for forciblyejecting the tested can from Within its seat.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

HENRY 0. BLACK.

WVitnesses:

N. A. AOKER, l). B. RICHARDS.

